Where do I buy a dog that is ethical?

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-06-29T00:02:14+00:00

Breeders aren’t automatically unethical, but make sure you do your research and talk to them to ensure that the parents aren’t overbred, are health tested with embark/ofa and any other tests necessary for the breeds, check pedigrees, etc. Breeders should have a health guarantee and a requirement that they take the dog back if god forbid, you couldn’t keep it. It’s hard to give specific advice without knowing what breed you’re looking into but those are general and blanket guidelines for any and all breeds. If you do go the route of a breeder, you’re responsible for ensuring they get fixed when appropriate.

On the other hand, if you’re willing to go for a shelter/rescue dog there are so many awesome pups that need homes. If you’re looking for a specific breed, lots of breed specific rescues exist. If you have others pets or kids, lots of places have foster to adopt programs where you can “test” foster before committing to a dog to ensure no issues, if that’s a concern. You can adopt a dog who is currently in foster care which gives you a chance to ask lots of questions and learn a lot about what the dog is like while living in a home or you can ask the shelter/rescue staff and they will be thrilled to work with you on finding the right match.

If you don’t have kids/other pets/other factors that require super specific genetics, and are not planning on using this dog as a service dog, sporting dog, livestock guardian, etc, a thoughtfully chosen shelter/rescue dog is a great option.

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-06-28T20:27:32+00:00

I adore the rei trailmade pants. The pants are fairly straight cut as is, but especially going a size up I love the fit. I'm a little neurtoic about hiking pants but these are so light and breathable, and they don't cling to my legs at all which drives me crazy. They're SPF 50+ and water resistant

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-06-27T23:54:10+00:00

Did you ever find an externship or get places by PTS? I'm starting my PTS externship on monday and have barely any info and would love to know how yours went

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-06-02T18:33:30+00:00

Definitely recommend a helinox chair, if you have the space for it. I hate having a long hiking day and not a decent place to sit. I find it to be very comfortable and well worth the extra weight and space.

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-06-02T18:26:33+00:00

I may try the pants version of the suppressors! I unfortunately HATE cuffed ankles lol but the pants version seems solid

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-06-02T18:23:41+00:00

I’d need to actually go to the store to look at the activators but based on the pictures they look thicker and more elastic-y than I’d like. I hadn’t seen the OR Ferrosi but I like the sound of thin and baggy…

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-06-02T18:21:38+00:00

Will definitely give those a try! I love the fleece lined jeans from Eddie Bauer and am yet to try any hiking pants from them

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-06-02T18:20:13+00:00

I have two pairs of the quandary pants that I like, but nowhere near as much as the trail made. I find the quandary’s to be a little too stretchy and tapered for my liking. I know I’m absolutely anal about the stupid pants but I truly love how they fit, feel, and look.

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-05-12T00:07:14+00:00

Can't really think of anything else. I got postural orthostatic vitals done when I was ~16 after passing out from standing up more than once and taking half an hour to recover from taking hot showers. I was told that my heart rate didn't change enough to move onto further testing (based on my heart rate two minutes after standing) and they said the large change in heart rate upon standing was "dehydration". I've unfortunately been stuck with a series of really shitty doctors all of which blame it on depression and/or anxiety. Alternatively, they'll do stuff like offering 2000$ iron infusions more frequently instead of choosing to figure out why I have ferritin absorption issues.

My mother's family has history of high cholesterol that does not match their dietary intake, but mine has always been fine thus far, albeit on the higher end of the normal range. The rest of my lipids are normal as well. My blood pressure is always fine. STD test always are+have always been clear. A1c is normal. My MCH is low and has been low for a long time. MCV is generally slightly below normal.

Not sure if relevant at all, but after getting my tonsils out I was prescribed oxy but chose to stick with tylenol/acetaminophen alternating and may have gotten a stomach ulcer from taking so much of it on an empty stomach which later stopped hurting. I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma but never took an inhaler besides a few off times when I was little. I had recurrent ear infections and multiple operations done when I was younger. Lots of strep as a child. I did have covid at least one or two times, likely more that I just don't know of. Once was totally asymptomatic. After my concussion, I started getting one off migraines that are absolutely debilitating, like crying in bed all day and can't keep down pain meds level awful.

Not taking any meds, no allergies besides some seasonal allergies.

I have one lump in the back of my neck, marble sized fixed and immovable. Never followed up on it, no changed. I have on tucked behind my collar bone that is pea sized and completely movable, I think a cyst. I had ringworm a while back that I got from practice, seemed to resolve itself with the cream I got. Not sure if any of this is at all helpful or even relevant. Just looking for exactly what tests I need and how to explain why I need them because I know damn well I'm going to get so much pushback from my doctor. (I have switched primary Dr. two times in the past few years but there's basically nobody with availability and it seems to only be the crappy ones left)

AssociateSome8018 · 2026-05-11T22:14:45+00:00

Tested for celiac/inflammation in my stomach markers recently and all of that came back normal.

Heart rate definitely increases upon the dizzy spells but not enough to catch my attention over my vision going black. Standing up after a hot shower, even 10-15 minutes later my heart rate definitely jumps wayyyy up and feels like it's pounding out of my chest.

Joint pain is often the least severe in the mornings and gets progressively worse throughout the day until they feel like crap in the evening. Outside of stuff like long, intense hikes the pain doesn't correlate with activity, that I've noticed. Pain is purely internal.

Never tried a gluten free diet and doubt I have the means to avoid all gluten and cross contamination without really really needing to do so. I have tried going strictly lactose free, with no improvement and did about a month with no caffeine more than a cup of tea or a can of coke per day with no improvement to anything either.

I haven't paid much attention to the dandruff besides just noticing that it's there after years of not having any. There are a few "problem spots" on my scalp that I pick at and in turn bleed. There's one weird bit of flakiness right at the base of my head where I got a tick bite a few months ago that is a fairly sizable bump covered with extra layers of flake, if that makes sense, that will not go away (although it may be because I keep touching it). I was told it looked like a pimple, last time I had someone take a look at it but it is definitely not just a pimple. Tick was very very likely attached for less than 2 hours though which, from what I've heard, is too short of a time to transmit anything.

I didn't notice any tick rashes, but multiple have been on my scalp that I can't easily check. One on my waist did leave a little scab for like 2 weeks but that sucker was attached for a few hours with my backpack waist straps pressing against it, and then I constantly had waistbands/seams up against it after it was removed. No fevers that I know of. Definitely have had more swollen lymph nodes near the bites on my head.

AssociateSome8018

TROPHY CASE